Quote:
Originally Posted by Malcolm
That is really odd. The SkyWatcher site lists the daytime option as a new addition to its latest firmware, and if you have that, it should be there under the alignment menu. When you first turn on the handset, the v number is displayed. Check your v number.
Another option you could try, would be to align the scope at night, using your normal method, then cover and leave the scope aligned overnight with the power on, the next day, look at 7, (Planets) and select Sun. That could work.
It seems to me that if the menu option cannot be found, the version is not correct, or the update flash has not worked. I have a v3 handset by the way, however afaik the functions are the same, a friend in my small group has an NEQ6 Pro with a v4 handset and I have used his handset to show him the PAE function and it appears to be identical.
See if you can find one star alignment. The software write up on the SkyWatcher site says it's available and I just powered up my handset and it's not there. Although I'm sure I've seen it once before.
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Hi Malcolm,
Yes, it's a strange one.
When I turn the system, I see “version 04.38.09”. I press enter and get the warning about pointing the telescope at the sun. I then fill in coordinates, time zone, elevation, date, time, and then daylight saving status. I then press 1 to “begin alignment”. My options in the scroll list are:
1-star align
2-star align
3-star align
Cone error
NP error
There is no option to do daytime alignment.
There are definite changes since the earlier firmware as I can now choose the sun as a target under 'solar system' menu, just can't get it at the alignment menu.
I am really new and was hoping to use the daytime alignment to set up just before the sun goes down. I am still learning the sky and hoped this would help a bit.
I am setting up to the best of my ability using a compass to point the mount south and a digital level to point to the celestial pole. Then my biggest issue with aligning at night is how there are many more stars in the field of view once you look through the scope. I use star map to try and find my alignment target, I think I have it, I then try to zero in on it and find many more stars visible surrounding the chosen star that could also be the target - I hope than made sense
On that note, I wonder why they don't add things like Venus as an alignment target?
I am also getting used to how the EQ mount moves with the arrow keys and with things being back to front in the field of view. Last night Venus was easily the brightest thing in the western sky but it took me a good 30 minutes to get the scope pointed at it. From there Saturn took another few minutes. I suppose it's 49 years of learning about what up, down, left, and right mean, and now throwing that out the window.
I can't even try polar alignment from my home as the southern view is blocked to about 45 degrees, northern to about 25 degrees, but not too bad for west and east.
Cheers
Mick